Collapsible table



Jan. 23, 1962 A. G. HOEK ET AL 3,018,147

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Jan- 23, 1962 A. G. HOEK ET AL COLLAPSIBLETABLE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1959 3,018,147 COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Adrian G.Hoek, 1052 E. 38th, and Michael N. Vessio, 2713 Albemarle Road, both ofBrooklyn, N.Y Fitted .iuly 2, 1959, Ser. No. 824,524 9 Claims. (Cl.311-41) This invention relates to a collapsible picnic table, and moreparticularly to an improved collapsible table platform which ismountable on a central supporting device, as, for example, a drum-likepicnic cooler.

On a crowded beach, family units are seen with picnic coolers, but,frequently, the food itself, after being dispensed from the cooler isplaced on the sand or some makeshift tablecloth. Admittedly, a tablewould help the situation, but people are reluctant to carry excesspicnic equipment and t'ne end result of the makeshift approach is sandin the food.

Accordingly, it is the first object of this invention to provide animproved collapsible table.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide an improvedcollapsible table which may be mounted on a picnic cooler so that thecombination may be transported as if it were a cooler with plural coverswhich are pivotal from a cover position to a peripheral position to forma picnic table.

It is a still further object `of this invention to provide an improvedcollapsible picnic table which may be attached to any central supportingdevice and wherein the table components may be pivoted from a nestedposition with the components in superposed parallel relationship to anactive position wherein the components are in a coplanar relationship.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparentand the invention will be clearly understood from an examination of thedrawings wherein FIG- URE l is a plan view of our improved picnic tablewith the table components shown in the nested position and attached to apicnic or thermos cooler.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the combined picnic table and thermoscooler.

, FG. 3 is a section View through plane 3-3 of FIG. l taken in thedirection of the arrows.

FIG, 4 is a perspective View showing mounting attachments for supportingthe collapsible picnic table on the thermos cooler.

FIG. 5 is a section view of one of the supporting brackets shown in FIG.3 taken in its active position.

FIG. 6 is a top section through plane 6 6 of FIG. 5 taken in thedirection of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing our improved collapsible table inits active position.

FlG. 8 is a perspective view showing our improved collapsible tableshown in combination with a portable charcoal grill.

Briefly, this invention comprises a mounting ring which may bedetachably secured to a central support, such as a picnic cooler-incombination with a plurality of discs which are supported for combinedpivotal and vertical movement on said mounting ring so that the discsmay be pivoted from a nested position wherein they are in superposedparallel relationship overlying the cover of said picnic cooler to anactive position wherein the discs are coplanar with each other with thetop of said picnic cooler.

With reference to the drawings:

A picnic cooler 2 is shown having a handle 4. Our improved collapsibletable comprises a mounting ring 6, a plurality of discs 8, each of whichis supported by hinge devices 10 in turn carried by the mounting ring 6.

Mounting ring 6 as shown in FIG. 4, is a band of metal having clips 12,14- which may be drawn together by the ibdi'? Patented Jan. 23, 1962releasable screw 16 or by a releasable luggage latch, not shown. Themounting ring 6 carries a plurality of peripherally spaced sockets 18having axes parallel to but spaced from the axis of said mounting ring.Each socket 18 carries a foot 21 engageable with the shell of thethermos cooler 2 to increase the rigidity of the connection between thesockets 18 and the thermos cooler.

Each disc 8 carries a support 19 which provides a combined stabilizerbar 20 and pin shaft 22. The stabilizer bar, pin shaft combination iswelded or otherwise attached to the underside of the disc 8 in such amanner that the pin shaft 22 is substantially peripheral of the disc 8with the axis for pin shaft 22 being parallel to that of the disc. Withthis construction, the pin shaft 22 is engageable with one of thecomplementary sockets 1S to provide combined pivotal and verticalmovement of the disc relative to the mounting ring whereby each disc mayhe pivoted to a nested position wherein it overlies the mounting ringand an active or extended position, which in a preferred embodiment isfrom the nested position, to provide a radially extending platform. Thepin shaft socket construction is such that the disc may be raised to berotated to the nested position but in the extended position, it islowered to be coplanar with the other discs 8, and with the top of thepicnic cooler.

To increase the rigidity of the support, the pin shaft 22 and socket 1b,are provided with cooperating pin detent means. For example, socket 18has the detent 24, while pin shaft 22 carries the slotted keyway 26which engages the detent when the pin shaft is in its FIG. 5 or activeposition thereby locking the disc in its active position.

With this construction, any number of cover size discs up to six of adiameter equal to that of the cooler top may be carried with the thermoscooler. The discs may be stored in the nested position duringtransportation and then pivoted to the active position for use. It hasbeen found that this combination provides a sturdy, practical,collapsible table for picnic use. Furthermore, when in the nestedposition, the discs may be locked together, as by band 27, so that theymay be lifted as a unit away from the cooler to give access to the coverof the thermos cooler.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment wherein the collapsible table is shownin combination with a portable charcoal grill.

While we have described one embodiment of our invention, it is apparentthat various changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A collapsible table-like platform attachment for a central supportcomprising a mounting ring, means detachably securing said mounting ringto the central support, a plurality of pivotal support devices attachedperipherally about said mounting ring to provide pivot axes parallel tobut spaced from that of said mounting ring, a plurality of discs carriedone each by said pivotal support devices, each disc including meanslocated adjacent the periphery of the respective disc and cooperatingwith one of the pivotal support devices attached to said mounting ringto permit pivotal movement of each disc from a nested position whereinall of said discs are in superposed parallel relationship to an activeposition wherein all of said discs are coplanar and peripherally spacedwith respect to said central support.

2. A collapsible table platform attachment for a central supportcomprising a mounting ring. means detachably securing said mounting ringto said central support, a plurality of sockets attached peripherallyabout said mounting ring to provide support receptacles having axesspaced from but parallel to that of said mounting ring, a plurality ofdiscs, pin means cooperable with said sockets for pivotal movementattached to said discs to provide for pivotal movement of the same froma nested position wherein all of said discs are in a superposed parallelrelationship to an active position wherein all of said discs arecoplanar and peripherally spaced with respect to said central support.

3. A collapsible table platform attachment for a central supportcomprising a mounting ring, means detachably securing said mounting ringto said central support, a plurality of sockets attached peripherallyabout 'said mounting ring to provide support receptacles having axesspaced from but parallel to that of said mounting ring, a plurality ofdiscs, each of said discs carrying a pin shaft located perpendicular toand substantially peripheral of said disc, said pin shafts,respectively, cooperating with said sockets to provide for the pivotalmovement of said discs from a nested position wherein all of said discsare in a superposed parallel relationship to an active position whereinall of said discs are coplanar and peripherally spaced with respect tosaid central support.

4. A collapsible table platform attachment for a central supportcomprising a mounting ring, means detachably securing said mounting ringto said central support, a plurality of sockets attached peripherallyabout said mounting ring to provide support receptacles having axesspaced from but parallel to that of said mounting ring, a plurality ofdiscs, each of said discs carrying a pin shaft located perpendicular toand substantially peripheral of said disc, said pin shafts respectivelycooperating with said sockets to provide for the pivotal movement ofsaid discs from a nested position wherein all of said discs are in asuperposed parallel relationship to an active position wherein all ofsaid discs are coplanar and peripherally spaced with respect to saidcentral support, said pin shafts and sockets having cooperatingreleasable locking devices to hold saidr shaft relative to said socketin its active position.

5. A collapsible table platform attachment for a central supportcomprising a mounting ring, means detachably securing said mounting ringto said central support, a plurality of pivotal support devices attachedperipherally about said mounting ring to provide pivot axes parallel tobut spaced from that of said mounting ring, a plurality of discs, meansmounting each of said discs ony one of said pivotal support devices forpivotal movement from a nested position wherein all of said discs are ina superposed parallel relationship to an active position wherein all ofsaid discs are coplanar and peripherallyl spaced with respect to saidcentral support, said mounting means comprising a combined shaft andstabilizer bar with the shaft and bar extending in mutuallyperpendicular planes, said stabilizer bar lying in supporting relationto its respective disc in a plane parallel thereto and said shaft beingparallel to` but spaced from the axis of its respective disc, each shaftbeing mounted for pivotal movement about one of said pivotal supportdevices.

6. A collapsible table platform attachment for a central supportcomprising amounting ring, means detachably securing said mounting ringto said central support, a plurality of pivotal support devices attachedperipherally about said mounting ring to provide pivot axes parallel tobut spaced from that of said mounting ring, a plurality of discs, meansmounting said discs on said pivotal support devices for pivotal movementfrom a nested position wherein all of said discs are in a superposedparallel relationship to an active position wherein all of said discsare coplanar and peripherally spaced with respect to said centralsupport, said mounting means comprising a combined shaft and stabilizerbar with the shaft and bar extending in mutually perpendicular planes,said stabilizer bar lying in supporting relation to its respective discin a plane parallel thereto and said shaft being parallel to but spacedfrom the axis of its respective disc, each shaft being mounted forpivotal movement about one of said pivotal support devices said shaftand said pivotal support device having cooperating releasable detentmeans for locking said shaft and its attached disc in its activeposition.

7. A collapsible table platform attachment for a central supportcomprising a mounting ring,- means detachably securing said mountingring to said central support, a plurality of discs, and means mountingthe same on said mounting ring to provide pivotal movements of saiddiscs from a nested position wherein all of said discs are in asuperposed parallel relationship to an active position wherein all ofsaid discs are coplanar and peripherally spaced with respect to saidcentral support, said mounting means comprising a plurality of pivotalsupport devices attached peripherally about said vmounting ring, each ofsaid discs including a pin shaft pivotally mounted in one of saidpivotal support devices and extending along an axis parallel to butspaced from that of said mounting ring, each of said pin shafts having asupporting strut attached to its corresponding disc thereby providingcombined vertical and pivotal movement of said discs relative to saidpivotal support devices.

8. A combined collapsible table platform and central support such as apicnic cooler comprising in combination a mounting device, meanssecuring said mounting device to said central support, a plurality ofdiscs, means supporting said discs on said mounting device for cornbinedpivotal and vertical movement of said discs from a nested positionwherein all of said discs are in superposed parallel relationshipoverlying the cover of said central `support to an active positionwherein all of said discs are coplanar With each other and with the topof said central support.

9. A collapsible table-like platform attachment for a central` supportcomprising a mounting ring, means detachably securing said mounting ringto the central support, a plurality of disc members, cooperating pin andsocket pivotal support means carried by said mounting ring and by saidlplurality of disc members at peripheral locations on said ring and saiddisc members, one pair of cooperating pin and socket means beingprovided for each disc member, said peripheral locations being spacedcircumferentially of said mounting ring, said pin and socket meansprovidingl pivotal axes parallel to but spaced radially from the axis ofsaid mounting ring, said disc members'being movable about said pivotalaxes from a nested position wherein all of said discs are in superposedparallel relation to one another to an active position wherein all ofsaid discs are coplanar and located in planetary relation about saidcentral support.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

